POWER STUDY - B44

[FAITH]

The Counterfeit Cross - 2
(Read Romans 8 and Galatians 3)

Galatians 5:16  - But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

(There is a major difference between the believer who is being dealt with by God and the one who has become self-analyzing. When God searches the heart, He finds things in us He wants to change. He brings conviction because of His commitment to deliver us. He is the one with the spotlight and He alone gives the grace to change.)

Romans 6:13 13 and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
2 Corinthians 12:10 10Therefore I am well, content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

(It is easy to see your weaknesses, your propensity to sin, and your inability to be like Jesus. Confessing this truth requires no faith at all. The counterfeit crosswalk is embraced because it requires no faith. On the contrary, to do as Paul has commanded in Romans 6:11: to consider myself dead to sin, I must believe God. Therefore, in my weakest state I declare “I am strong”. I agree with God regardless of how I feel and discover the power of resurrection. The first place faith must be exercised is in believing that I am always in right standing with God (all my sins are forgiven) and equipped in my Christ identity to continually be bearing fruit for His Kingdom -- moving from glory to glory in my Christ calling.) 

Romans 8:14-16 14For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,

• It honors God more when His children no longer see themselves as sinners saved by grace but know themselves as heirs of God.
• It is a greater form of humility to believe Him when He says we are precious in His sight when we don’t feel very precious.
• It honors God more when we think of ourselves as free from all our sins because He said we are.
• We rise up to the high calling of God and stop saying things about ourselves that are no longer true.

 

Jesus paid the ultimate price to make it possible for us to have a change in our identity.  Isn’t it time we believe it and receive the benefits?  Maturity comes from faith in the sufferings of God’s redemption (The Finished Work Of The Cross) accompanied by bearing fruit that remains for His Kingdom through our Christ calling.

ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

HTTP://afministry.ning.com

ZZ - 1337   DW4    04-09-2024    The Counterfeit Cross - 2